Field Marks: 6.5 in. A streaked bunting of grassy, weedy, brushy, and agricultural areas of the Midwest. Feeds on or near ground in vegitation, but is conspicuous on fences and tall brush, especially when singing. Generally gregarious. Breeding male has bright yellow eyestripe, mustache, and breast; V-shaped black bib on breast; head and rest of underparts mostly grayish; upperpart brown, streaked with black; rufous shoulder patch. Female similar but duller, lacking black bib. Winter male like breeding male but duller. Immature plain, with traces of adult face pattern; breast lightly streaked. Song two sharp notes followed by buzzy notes: "dick dick dickcissel." Call a short buzzy note, often heard at night during migration.
Range: Breeds from e. Montana east to central Ohio and south to Texas and central Gulf Coast states. Winters from Mexico to South America.